When I was young, I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be as funny, as playful, and smart as all the other kids in my first grade class. I wanted to be friends with all the girls and get gold stars on my homework for perfect work. Unfortunately none of that came easy to me at the time so other kids decided it was necessary to point it out and make fun of me for it. I was ridiculed for spelling easy words wrong and stuttering while reading aloud to the teacher. It came a point where I cried before school every day and begged my mom to let me stay home. Luckily a month into school, everything changed.
Reading started off extremely difficult for me and I thought it was the most unnatural thing to do. When my teacher noticed I was struggling with the required books, she introduced me to Martha Liebman. Mrs. Liebman became one of my closest confidants that year. She was a reading specialist to me but also just happened to be a good friend of mine. She was one of the few teachers who I knew I could rely on and feel comfortable with. She did not laugh at me when I mispronounced a word she just assisted me and told me not to worry about. Mrs. Liebman set my foundation to my education and even to my social life. She gave me confidence that I would have never gained if it was not for her wise talks. Mrs. Liebman instructed me to go into every class, reading or not, with my best foot forward. I was told to imagine everything going perfectly, nothing less than that. With her advice I began to excel in reading and put forth every little bit of effort I had in my seven year old self. Because I saw Mrs. Liebman every day I became the person that I am today.
It was not until fifth grade when I felt completely safe with another teacher like I did with Mrs. Liebman. I never thought a teacher of mine would a person to cry to after my guinea pig died; until I stepped into my fifth grade classroom with Mrs. Haferl. She was so full of energy and generally excited to teach my class every day she was there. Because of her I began to appreciate learning. I no longer came home and procrastinated doing my homework. I no longer cried before I got on the bus each morning. Mrs. Haferl made learning fun with different games every day such as our own class spelling bee to teach us the word study words for the particular week. She became a part of the class by joining in on the games and playing with us during recess. She was a true companion, an elder who I could go to when I felt uncomfortable or had a question I felt dumb asking another student. I aspired to be just like her as I left that classroom and continued on with my education. I felt compelled to be patient with others, outgoing but attentive, and to just be you.
As I got older and moved up grade levels, being true to me was hard to keep up with. Every teenager yearns for popularity and relationships and I was just like that typical stereotype. Middle school was not a time I relied on a teacher to give me life lessons, but my friends. It was a time for your first boy-girl dance, your first relationship, or your first time being able to sit with all of your friends at lunch. Personally, I constantly moved friend groups trying to find the ultimate deal: popularity, beauty, boys, smart, and being adored by everyone. What I did not realize during that moment was that being popular or having a boyfriend meant nothing if you did not have friends to rely on in times of need. Various events happen to a teenage girl during middle school that they need a solid group of people who would support them no matter what. Any person should not feel left out while eating or forming study groups. True friends always ensure each other is happy and do what is best for everyone they care about, not just for themselves. When I found my true found group, it was a sense of belonging finally hitting me. It was laughing at a joke for ten minutes or running through the halls just because we aren’t allowed to. My real friends reassured me that it was okay to be weird or dress differently. They accepted me for who I was as a person. Middle school revolved around my friendships more than anything. Without the support of my friends, I still would not feel comfortable just being myself wherever I go.
Elementary and middle school were never easy at times. They always came with a complicated day or lesson planned ahead. What I gained from those days was that confidence allows you to be noticed and do what you want and feel. It allows you to read in front of a classroom and somehow read every word in the exact order as it was written. School eventually became enjoyable and I was excited to learn a different topic each day. It was reassuring that I was going to a place away from home but still being able to feel just as comfortable there as if I was in my own kitchen. I knew someone in the classroom was constantly looking out for me, allowing me to feel safe. Attending school became even better once I found that group of girls that I finally cliqued with. It was so easy to show up in the clothing I felt appropriate in and have a normal conversation that I feel a part of and included. My early schooling experience taught me many essential life lessons. Trusting your instinct and base what you do off of your own opinions not what others want from you allowed you to be free and happy doing whatever you please. I learned to be where you are comfortable and don’t be afraid to say what you want or feel. This all was imprinted on me when I walked into different buildings each year and met new inspiration. Even at my lowest points, I was constantly reassured that I was not alone by both teachers and friends.
Reading started off extremely difficult for me and I thought it was the most unnatural thing to do. When my teacher noticed I was struggling with the required books, she introduced me to Martha Liebman. Mrs. Liebman became one of my closest confidants that year. She was a reading specialist to me but also just happened to be a good friend of mine. She was one of the few teachers who I knew I could rely on and feel comfortable with. She did not laugh at me when I mispronounced a word she just assisted me and told me not to worry about. Mrs. Liebman set my foundation to my education and even to my social life. She gave me confidence that I would have never gained if it was not for her wise talks. Mrs. Liebman instructed me to go into every class, reading or not, with my best foot forward. I was told to imagine everything going perfectly, nothing less than that. With her advice I began to excel in reading and put forth every little bit of effort I had in my seven year old self. Because I saw Mrs. Liebman every day I became the person that I am today.
It was not until fifth grade when I felt completely safe with another teacher like I did with Mrs. Liebman. I never thought a teacher of mine would a person to cry to after my guinea pig died; until I stepped into my fifth grade classroom with Mrs. Haferl. She was so full of energy and generally excited to teach my class every day she was there. Because of her I began to appreciate learning. I no longer came home and procrastinated doing my homework. I no longer cried before I got on the bus each morning. Mrs. Haferl made learning fun with different games every day such as our own class spelling bee to teach us the word study words for the particular week. She became a part of the class by joining in on the games and playing with us during recess. She was a true companion, an elder who I could go to when I felt uncomfortable or had a question I felt dumb asking another student. I aspired to be just like her as I left that classroom and continued on with my education. I felt compelled to be patient with others, outgoing but attentive, and to just be you.
As I got older and moved up grade levels, being true to me was hard to keep up with. Every teenager yearns for popularity and relationships and I was just like that typical stereotype. Middle school was not a time I relied on a teacher to give me life lessons, but my friends. It was a time for your first boy-girl dance, your first relationship, or your first time being able to sit with all of your friends at lunch. Personally, I constantly moved friend groups trying to find the ultimate deal: popularity, beauty, boys, smart, and being adored by everyone. What I did not realize during that moment was that being popular or having a boyfriend meant nothing if you did not have friends to rely on in times of need. Various events happen to a teenage girl during middle school that they need a solid group of people who would support them no matter what. Any person should not feel left out while eating or forming study groups. True friends always ensure each other is happy and do what is best for everyone they care about, not just for themselves. When I found my true found group, it was a sense of belonging finally hitting me. It was laughing at a joke for ten minutes or running through the halls just because we aren’t allowed to. My real friends reassured me that it was okay to be weird or dress differently. They accepted me for who I was as a person. Middle school revolved around my friendships more than anything. Without the support of my friends, I still would not feel comfortable just being myself wherever I go.
Elementary and middle school were never easy at times. They always came with a complicated day or lesson planned ahead. What I gained from those days was that confidence allows you to be noticed and do what you want and feel. It allows you to read in front of a classroom and somehow read every word in the exact order as it was written. School eventually became enjoyable and I was excited to learn a different topic each day. It was reassuring that I was going to a place away from home but still being able to feel just as comfortable there as if I was in my own kitchen. I knew someone in the classroom was constantly looking out for me, allowing me to feel safe. Attending school became even better once I found that group of girls that I finally cliqued with. It was so easy to show up in the clothing I felt appropriate in and have a normal conversation that I feel a part of and included. My early schooling experience taught me many essential life lessons. Trusting your instinct and base what you do off of your own opinions not what others want from you allowed you to be free and happy doing whatever you please. I learned to be where you are comfortable and don’t be afraid to say what you want or feel. This all was imprinted on me when I walked into different buildings each year and met new inspiration. Even at my lowest points, I was constantly reassured that I was not alone by both teachers and friends.